Culture Guard news release

For immediate release

Culture Guard demands probe of gay pornography in schools

VANCOUVER, Sept. 15, 2011 (Culture Guard) — Gay pornography is being promoted in some BC schools under the guise of “anti-bullying” programs, RoadKill Radio co-host Kari Simpson charged yesterday at a news conference called by Culture Guard, an organization to promote citizen activism.

After revealing that online gay porn videos and other forms of pornography are being promoted in some BC schools by an “anti-bullying” program called Out In Schools, Mrs. Simpson took her evidence to the Vancouver Police to file citizen complaints of possible Criminal Code violations by Out in Schools and the Queer Film Festival. Those complaints include Internet luring of children; exposing children to pornography; and possible fraud, by obtaining money from corporate donors to the program under false pretenses. She also named the BC Teachers’ Federation and the Vancouver School Board in the complaints.

[Update: Click here to see how the complaint was rejected by the receiving officer!]

Out in Schools was written by Romi Chandra, the domestic partner of NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert. Mrs. Simpson said that in addition to money obtained by the program from corporate sponsors, more than $370,000 of taxpayers’ money had been contributed by the provincial government. Out in Schools is already being used in schools in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Haida Gwaii.

The list of “student resources” in the teachers’ guide, purchased by school boards and apparently approved by the Ministry of Education,  includes Health Initiative for Men, an Internet web-site that includes videos of gay pornography. The BCTF has endorsed the program.

One of the activities under the so-called “anti-bullying” program invites students to create a short “anti-homophobia” video to be used as a public service announcement, and to enter their videos in a contest run by “Out On Screens.” The winning PSAs are promised prizes and public recognition at a presentation ceremony. That ceremony is, in fact, to be held in conjunction with Vancouver’s Queer Film Festival, an annual porn-fest.

Students who attend the PSA awards ceremony are also invited to a “Fierce and Fabulous Under-25 party” that includes playing “Lesbian Debauchery”, described by the QFF as “a dirty drinking game.” Displays of gay pornography are evident at the party and awards presentation.

Out in Schools says it is intended for secondary school students, but Culture Guard has obtained photographic evidence of it being presented at elementary schools by Out in Schools facilitators Ross Johnstone and Jen “Jenderfuck” Sung.

Also participating at the news conference were representatives of Parents’ Voice, organized this summer to challenge questionable materials being introduced into Burnaby schools; and Take Back Our Schools, a consortium of four BC groups concerned about students, families and parents’ rights.

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contact: Kari Simpson (604) 514-1614